Defence mapping

Outsourced Map Production

T-Kartor’s unique production system CPS (see details below) produces any type of map or chart on paper or any digital format for Aero, Hydro or Topo. This allows for rapid, reliable and extremely cost effective production of maps and charts on paper or digital, routinely produced or available quickly in a ‘product-on-demand’ contingency environment.

Customer statement:

”T-Kartor are providing aeronautical update services according to AIRAC to the Norwegian Air Force together with printed charts and other Digital Geographic Information. T-Kartor’s capability to deliver additional services related to ongoing Research & Development is also noteworthy.”

-Kjetil Utne, former director FMGT, Norwegian Defence

Aero Production

T-Kartor is involved with the creation of NAVPLAN for the U.S. military utilising the same technology that we have applied to mapping for more than a decade with European military organisations. T-Kartor has proved outstanding cartographic quality and performance to a minimal cost-level and is considered to be the most advanced air chart producer in the world.

We have produced Air charts for FMGT in the Norwegian Defence since 2004. The contract includes all types of Norwegian air chart in any format and scales ranging from 1:50,000 to 1:1,000,000, and responsibility for the Correction Facility providing NOTAM and CHADNOR.

We also produce ICAO maps, including NOTAM and CHAD-AVINOR for the Norwegian civil aviation authority Avinor.

Hydro Production

We also handle any type of Hydro Chart on paper or any digital format such as ENC, ARCS, or DNC. Our Correction Facility also supports production of Notices to Mariners. T-Kartor has particular expertise in fusing land and sea information at high resolutions through involvement with the EU’s BLAST (Bringing Land and Sea Together) project.

Topo Production

T-Kartor produces any type of Topo Chart on paper or any digital format, for example MDGs (of various specifications) based on MGCP. The production of Air Charts is preferably combined with that of Topo Charts to synchronize common base information and ensure consistency between domains.

CPS is T-Kartor’s bespoke platform for Cartographic Production, based on OGC standards. It combines the best COTS products with Open Source and our own proprietary code.

The combination results in a complete production line where all outputs are generated directly from the database with no or minimal manual interaction, into a wide range of output specifications (e.g. TLM, MDG, JOG, TPC etc.) and formats (PDF, Geospatial PDF, GeoTIFF, CADRG, ENC etc.), and colour separated print files if needed for bulk paper copy.

T-Kartor’s Production Approach

Our approach to map and chart production environments follows these basic principles:

Minimal manual editing in cartographic products

All changes are made in the database (no single product stovepipes)

One-Feature-One-Time (1F1T) to eliminate duplication/stove piping

Knowledge Base to define all product rules, including specifications and cartographer knowledge.

Workflow Manager to keep track of and manage all content changes from source to all affected outputs.

Our data-driven mapping solution CPS enables the exploitation of data from all sources, including both commodity and government, and integrates them into a seamless content database supporting all required outputs. This allows for a one-feature-one-time rendering (1F1T) of the best data sources depicting each feature.

Products (routine and contingency) are defined over each specific area to include all relevant information for each product type. These product definitions can be added to or amended at any time, and are then used to create new products, new editions of existing products, or chart amendments with the latest updated information. Rigorous validation and quality control are part of an ongoing database maintenance process, which is central to our philosophy. And since CPS also controls all colour settings in any product we can easily adapt to any specific demand for screen display or paper printing.

POD – Product on Demand

Utilising our seamless CPS technology, any base map or chart can be completed in much less time than when using traditional automated cartographic methods. The product can then be kept in a ‘data-current’ or readily updatable state and times as a Product-on-Demand output, eg to avoid expensive printing and distribution unless and until needed, or after application of last minute updates.

Last minute changes to symbology, styles and content can be implemented efficiently before the production of map outputs. Digital and printed maps can be created rapidly at any time for use in any emergency, including special mission specific designs.

Moving Map products

Air Charts produced in CPS are easily transferable to any Moving Map system with the ability to control every colour (e.g. coding for CMYK and RGB, true colour etc.) and easily modify cartography allows creation of an ideal product for the Moving Map system.

Correction Facility

As part of CPS, but also implemented independently in a major hydrographic agency, T-Kartor has developed a Correction Facility system known as SDRA (Source Data Receipt and Assessment) to underpin the maintenance process and create information needed for essential updates on all products in all domains. The system also supports the creation of necessary documents to update any extant chart with, eg

NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) to highlight critical updates in products

CHAD (Chart Amendment Document) to document all updates in products

ShapeCHAD is a Shape-file containing all updates in products

Product examples

From our bespoke Cartographic Production System CPS T-Kartor produces any type of map or chart on paper or any digital format.

T-Kartor produces any type of Topo Chart on paper or any digital format, for example MDGs (of various specifications) based on MGCP. The production of Air Charts is preferably combined with that of Topo Charts to be able to synchronize common base information like names, roads etc. for efficiency and to ensure consistency between domains.

T-Kartor also produces any type of Hydro Chart on paper or any digital format like ENC or ARCS, or DNC. Our Correction Facility also supports production of Notices to Mariners. The production of Hydro Charts is preferably combined with the Topo and Air Charts where appropriate to be able to synchronize information like names, roads etc. to optimize collaboration and consistency between the domains. T-Kartor has particular expertise in fusing land and sea information at high resolutions through involvement with the EU’s BLAST (Bringing Land and Sea Together) project.